More information is coming out on the fire at 403 Pankashaw Street, Wednesday morning. The person that called 911 was only able to limited information because they had to leave the structure. Paola Police Officers were on the scene first. They and a neighbor had tried to reach a woman on the second floor with a ladder, but she made the decision to jump. She broke her leg in the fall. The first truck arrived on scene at 9:09. Firefighters made a quick decision to call in Mutual Assistance from Osawatomie and Louisburg to help fight the fire. Believing more residents were trapped in the building, three firefighters entered with full protective gear to search. A few minutes later, they were told everyone was accounted for, however, they were able to save several pets in the building. The fire was deemed under control at 9:30 and out at 10:30.
The fire left the entire residence uninhabitable, displacing eight people. The fire is believed to have started in the bedroom of a downstairs apartment and may have been electrical. Fire investigators still have not determined the exact cause of the fire. Those displaced by the fire have been sheltered by the Red Cross at the Paola Inn and Suites.
